UltraScan Version

Manual


SOMO - Grid Bead Overlap Reduction Options Module:

In this Module, you set the rules for removing the overlaps between the beads generated in the first stage of the bead model building process. This operation is mandatory for a correct computation of the hydrodynamic properties of the bead model because the hydrodynamic interaction tensor used is valid for non-overlapping spheres of different radii (Garcia de la Torre and Bloomfield, Q. Rev. Biophys. 14:81-139, 1981; Spotorno et al., Eur. J. Biophys. 25:373-384, 26:417, 1997).
For Grid (AtoB)-type bead models, three different panels are available. The first two, Exposed grid beads and Buried grid beads, operate when the the Enable ASA screening function in the SOMO Grid Function Options (AtoB) module is selected. The third panel, Non-screened grid beads, is operative when the Enable ASA screening function in the SOMO Grid Function Options (AtoB) module is not selected. In this case, ALL the beads are initially classified as buried and then subdivided between buried and exposed at the end of the process by the ASAB1 routine.

Exposed grid beads:

Exposed Grid Beads Overlap Reduction Options This Panel operates when the the Enable ASA screening function in the SOMO Grid Function Options (AtoB) module is selected. The first checkbox in this panel, Fuse Beads that overlap by more than:, activates a "fusion" process between beads that overlap by more than the threshold set in the corresponding field (default: 70%). A new bead is created with a volume equal to the sum of the two original beads, and positioned in the center of gravity (cog) between the two beads. The fusion process is a hierarchical procedure in which the couple with the biggest overlap exceeding the threshold is treated first, and the ensemble is re-screened after each fusion. This procedure was created for the SoMo-type bead models, and is not usually needed for Grid (AtoB)-type bead models (default: inactive).
The second checkbox, Remove Overlaps, dictates if the whole procedure is active. It should be disallowed only for testing purposes or if the model is not used for hydrodynamic computations (default: active).
Two alternative methods can then be selected to remove the remaining overlaps not exceeding the fusion threshold: Remove Overlaps synchronously and Remove Overlaps hierarchically (larger -> smaller). An Overlap Reduction Step Size (in %) field controls the finesse in this stage, by setting the step size (in % of the involved radii) used to remove the overlaps (default: 1%). The Same overlap reduction method for all bead types checkbox allow to automatically set the chosen procedure for all bead types (default: active). Furthermore, if this checkbox and the Automatically set suffix checkbox in the main panel are both selected, either the "hi" or "sy" symbol is added to the Bead Model Suffix field in the main panel.
In the Remove Overlaps synchronously procedure, the radii of all beads having an overlap are reduced by the selected % value in each step, and the ensemble is then re-screened; beads no longer having an overlap are dropped from the list. If the Outward Translation checkbox is selected, the beads centers are also moved outwardly by the same amount along a line connecting them with the cog of the molecule. The synchronous procedure is time-consuming, especially when large structures are analyzed. The quality of the models appears to be higher than that of models generated with the hierarchical procedure (more uniform bead sizes, less space between beads), and there's a small effect also in the calculation of the rotational diffusion and of the intrinsic viscosity, which appears to be linked to the volume correction through the number of beads classified as exposed by the ASA re-check routine (default: active).
In the Remove Overlaps hierarchically (larger -> smaller), the biggest overlap between a couple of beads is first removed by proportionally reducing their radii. If the Outward Translation checkbox is selected, the beads centers are also moved outwardly along a line connecting them with the cog of the molecule. The minimal amount of translation and radius reduction leading to overlap removal is computed by solving a set of equations. If the Outward Translation is active, the couple is removed from the list and whole set is re-screened for overlaps after each overlap is removed, otherwise the couple is just removed from the list and the next one is treated.
The Outward Translation was devised to maintain as much as possible the original surface of the molecule, which would otherwise shrink when the overlaps are eliminated by reducing the beads' radii (default: active).

Buried grid beads:

Buried Grid Beads Overlap Reduction Options Overlaps between the Grid (AtoB)-type models buried beads are removed in this stage when the the Enable ASA screening function in the SOMO Grid Function Options (AtoB) module is selected. As in the previous Panel, there is a Fuse Beads that overlap by more than: checkbox, whose use is however NOT recommended. Again, the second checkbox, Remove Overlaps, dictates if the whole procedure is active. It should be disallowed only for testing purposes, or if the model is not used for hydrodynamic computations (default: active).
Only the two alternative options, Remove Overlaps synchronously and Remove Overlaps hierarchically (larger -> smaller) are present in this stage. They are controlled by the Overlap Reduction Step Size (in %) field, and have been fully described in the Exposed grid beads Panel (default: hierarchical). The Same overlap reduction method for all bead types checkbox allow to automatically set the chosen procedure for all bead types (default: active).

Non-screened grid beads:

Non-screened Grid Beads Overlap Reduction Options This panel controls the overlap removal procedure for models build with the Grid (AtoB) routine when he Enable ASA screening function in the SOMO Grid Function Options (AtoB) module is not selected. In this case, all the beads are initially classified as buried, and the overlaps between them are removed in this stage. The ASA re-check routine will then reclassify the beads between exposed and buried.
As in the previous two Panels, there is a Fuse Beads that overlap by more than: checkbox, whose use has not yet been fully tested, and thus is presently NOT recommended. Again, the second checkbox, Remove Overlaps, dictates if the whole procedure is active. It should be disallowed only for testing purposes, or if the model is not used for hydrodynamic computations (default: active).
Only the two alternative options, Remove Overlaps synchronously and Remove Overlaps hierarchically (larger -> smaller) are present in this stage. They are controlled by the Overlap Reduction Step Size (in %) field, and have been fully described in the Exposed side chain beads Panel (default: hierarchical). The Same overlap reduction method for all bead types checkbox allow to automatically set the chosen procedure for all bead types (default: active). Furthermore, if this checkbox and the Automatically set suffix checkbox in the main panel are both selected, either the "hi" or "sy" symbol is added to the Bead Model Suffix field in the main panel.

www contact: Borries Demeler

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Last modified on January 27, 2010.